The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Short rhyming verses give young children an idea of the vast array of topics that scientists study. “What is science? / So many things. / The study of stars / and Saturn’s rings. / The study of rocks, / geodes, and stones, / dinosaur fossils, / and old chipped bones.” Dotlich’s focus is on the natural sciences, with primary attention given to the earth sciences, and to the exclusion of chemistry. While this will no doubt generate enthusiasm for scientific study, an afterword listing the names of the actual disciplines would have been a helpful resource. Yoshikawa’s artwork truly makes science come alive for young readers. Her cartoon characters, weighted in favor of girls, use books, tools, maps and notebooks to learn more about the world around them. Humorous elements and spare use of paper-collage details will keep youngsters engaged in searching the illustrations. A child-friendly introduction to the huge, and sometimes daunting, realm of science. Sure to find a place on many nursery and kindergarten bookshelves. (Picture book/nonfiction. 2-7)

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